Apparatus and method for relieving lumbar pain

Abstract

A bolster has an axial compressibility profile chosen so that lumbar pain can be relieved when the user places the bolster under his or her spine and rolls from a softer portion of the bolster to a firmer portion of it. A preferred bolster comprises a tubular outer portion formed from a resilient closed-cell polymeric foam material such as polyurethane. This outer tubular portion serves to cushion the user and prevent discomfort. The bolster has a relatively rigid portion at one or both ends, and a transition portion between the rigid end and a softer portion some distance from the end.

I claim: 
     
       1. A bolster for treating lumbar pain, the bolster comprising a rigid portion adjacent a first end thereof, the rigid portion comprising a first portion of a foamed plastic body, the first portion having a first concentration of bubbles; a soft portion spaced apart from the rigid portion along the axis of the bolster, the soft portion comprising a second portion of the foamed plastic body, the second portion having a second concentration of bubbles, the second concentration greater than the first concentration; and a transition portion intermediate the soft and the rigid portions, the transition portion providing a gradual change in compressibility, as perceived by a user lying on the bolster, from a first compressibility characteristic of the first end of the bolster to a second compressibility characteristic of the soft portion. 
     
     
       2. The bolster of claim 1 having a second rigid portion adjacent a second end thereof, the bolster longer than a width of the user's body. 
     
     
       3. The bolster of claim 1 wherein the soft portion is adjacent a second end of the bolster, the bolster longer than one half the width of the user's body. 
     
     
       4. The bolster of claim 1 wherein the rigid portion has a length of eight to ten inches. 
     
     
       5. A method whereby a person afflicted with pain in the lumbar portion of his or her spine may obtain relief therefrom, the method comprising the steps of: a) placing a bolster on a horizontal surface, the bolster having a compressibility varying along an axis thereof from a rigid portion disposed at one end thereof to a soft portion:   b) lying supine upon the bolster so that an angle between the axis of the bolster and the spine is between seventy and eighty degrees and the spine is above the soft portion of the bolster; and   c) rolling the lumbar portion of the spine from the soft portion to the hard portion of the bolster.   
     
     
       6. A method whereby a person afflicted with pain in the lumbar portion of his or her spine may obtain relief therefrom, the method comprising the steps of: a) placing a bolster on a horizontal surface, the bolster having a compressibility varying along an axis thereof from a rigid portion disposed at one end thereof to a soft portion;   b) lying supine upon the bolster so that the bolster is transverse to the spine and the spine is above soft portion of the bolster; and   c) rolling the lumbar portion of the spine from the soft portion to the hard portion of the bolster, wherein the act of rolling the lumbar portion of the spine comprises the person swinging one of his or her legs over the other while keeping his or her shoulders in contact with the horizontal surface.